Monumentpark

Monumentpark, Pretoria

Immediate neighbour to the Pretoria-east suburbs of Waterkloof Ridge, Kloofzicht and Erasmusrand, Monumentpark is one of the more sought-after, upmarket suburbs in the leafy eastern parts of the second-largest city in Gauteng.

It is also one of the older suburbs, meaning that the properties are large, the area tree-filled and the streets wide. Monumentpark lies just south of the Groenkloof Nature Reserve and Waterkloof Golf Course, whilst a little further across the N14 is the Voortrekker Monument Nature Reserve. Staying here allows you to visit many of the top tourist destinations of the city with little trouble, particularly as the centre of the city is only minutes away. Another bonus of staying in Monumentpark is the accessibility to two major highways - the N1 and N14.

Groenkloof Nature Reserve, just 5 kilometres outside the city centre, is a great escape and steeped in history, if you think that it was also the first game sanctuary on the African continent back in the days of Paul Kruger. Over weekends it teems, and you have to pay an entrance fee, but you will definitely get to see duiker, blue wildebeest and the odd zebra, even if it is against the backdrop of the Unisa buildings. The Fountains Valley resort, within the reserve, provides picnic spots, some of which are hidden away and provide you with the space you need, whilst there are also walks and mountain bike trails.

If you haven't visited Pretoria before, make sure you take in the Voortrekker Monument. Despite its association with the days of apartheid, the Cenotaph, the central focus of the monument, is well worth seeing. Once a year the sun shines through an opening in the dome of the roof right into its centre.